Gearing for bicycles



(No Model.)

0. A. SNIDER. GEARING FOR BIGYGLES.

No. 511,169. Patented Dec. 19; 1893.

WAsumm'cN. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SNIDER, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

GEARING FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,169, dated December19, 1893.

Application filed July 22, 1893. $erial No. 481,214- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. SNIDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Golumbus, in the county of Muscogee and State of Georgia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearing forBicycles, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in gearing for bicycles, and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and definitely pointed out in the claims.

The aim and purpose of the invention is the provision of a simple andpowerful improved gearing for accelerating the movement of a wheel,without materiallyincreasin g the power. This object is attained by theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein likeletters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several viewsand in which- Figure l, is a sectional elevation on the line as at,Fig. 1. Fig. 2, is a vertical cross-section on the line 2 c, Fig. 1, andFig. 3, is a detail view of the gear carrying plate.

In the drawings A represents the shaft, B the sleeve upon which the hubdisks are secured and C the fork having the adjustable bearing B for theballs binterposed between the same and sleeve. On the outer end of theshaft is the crank arm D, having a cup shaped connecting portion Dintegral therewith the open face of which is presented inwardly. On theinterior of the outer horizontal flange d of the cup shaped portion isan interior circular rack E.

F is a circular gear wheel having interior and exterior teeth, the outerteeth meshing with the teeth of the rack E, and the inner teeth meshingwith a gear G, on the end of sleeve B. This wheel F is of an internaldiameter greater than the diameter of the gear G, and is so arrangedthat there is a simultaneous engagement between the teeth thereof andthe teeth of the rack E and gear G. To retain the wheel F, in thisengaging position a circular flange f is formed centrally on its outerface, having a screw threaded periphery and a curved hearing at itsunder side. On

this project-ion or flange f is secured the collarf' having the femalethreaded flange f the threads of which engage the threads of the flangeThe lower portion of the collar has a hearing which in conjunction withthe bearing of the flange ffo'rms an adjustable semi-circular bearing.

H represents the carrying plate for the gear F. It consists ofa platehaving a semi-circular bearing in its periphery which registers with thesemi-circular bearing of flange f and collar f and between which are theballs h. The circumference of this plate H is slightly less than theinterior circumference of the flange f so that the flange f andconsequently the gear 13 are carried by the plate H. This plate H has aneccentric opening h therein, through which the shaft passes, whereby thegear F is held in an eccentric position relative to the shaft and incontactwith the gear G and rack E. To secure the platein aflxed positiona series of three inwardly extending lugs H are formed on itsinnerface,tl1e same having hollow centers registering with apertures inthe plate. These logs occupy a position between the inner gear of thegear F and gear wheel G, and extended inwardly to and in close proximityto the dust guard K, carried by the fork.

L are bolts or screws passing through the plate H, and lugs H, and intothe usual onlargement or bearing collar of the fork, thusrigidly'securing the plate against turning on the shaft.

Interposed between the outer under edge of the sleeve B and the outerend of the shaft and crank connection is a series of balls M, suitablecurved bearings being formed for the same.

The rack E is removably secured on the flange of the cup byhaviugaseries of screws N passing through the flange andinto the rack.

The operation of the device is plain, in view of the, above description.It is to be understood that alike gearing may be placed on the oppositeend of the shaft.

It is evident that slight changes in the device illustrated anddescribed can be made and-substituted therefor without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

The crank with the cup is integral with the shaft and the opposite endof the shaft is threaded to receive asuitable bearing ring.

The opposite crank is keyed on this threaded end. The sleeve is made intwo sections united by a threaded joint so that the bearings may bereadily adjusted.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a bicycle, gearing-,--thecombination with a shaft, of a sleeve on the shaft, a fork, a bearingbetween the sleeve and fork, a crank, a cup shaped extension on thecrank secured to the shaft, an internal gear rack on the cup, a gear onthe sleeve, a gear wheel having inner and outer teeth, eccentricallysurrounding the gear on the sleeve and engaging the teeth of the gearrack, a flange on the surrounding gear, an eccentric plate rigid on thefork and located at the side of the gear and an adjustable bearingbetween the plate and flange, substantially as described.

2. In abicycle the combination with a shaft, of a sleeve on the shaft, afork arm, an ad justable bearing between the arm and sleeve, a gearwheel on the sleeve, a'crank, a cup shaped extension on the crank havingconnection with the shaft, an inwardly extending rack on the extension,a gear ring eccentrically surrounding the gear on the sleeve and havinginner and outer teeth meshing respectively with the gear and rack, anoutwardly extending flange on the ring gear, an adjustable ring carriedby the flange, a carrying plate having a bearingin its periphery, andeccentrically mounted around the shaft, balls in the bearing of thecarrying plate and a rigid connection between the plate and fork arm,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. SNIDER.

Witnesses:

W. F. SULLIVAN, D. W. DIXON.

